There was a Telus Mobility promotion during the month of March - you could get a new iPhone 4S for free with a new contract. I spoke with them at the end of March and indicated that I was interested in the deal but wanted to actually see the phone before I committed to another 3 year contract (btw I have been a client of Telus since it was called Clearnet!). It took me 4 days to get to the store and by the time I did get there the deal had expired. information that would have been helpful when I spoke with the rep.
Here is what should have happened:
Me: "Hi Telus Mobility, I am a goof and missed the $0 iPhone 4S which was advertised last week. You can probably see that I called in last week to talk about it as my contract is expiring soon and I have an iPhone 3 which is on its last legs. Is there anyway you can turn back time for me and get me the phone for $0? Maybe we could do a credit for $79 (the new price)"
Telus Mobility Rep: "I am so sorry you missed the deal. We should have mentioned that it was expiring when you called last week. I can see here that you have been a loyal Telus customer for 13 years. To be totally honest you are one of our longest lasting customers and we want to do whatever we can to keep your business. I see that this would be only your third phone with us over that time period! And I see that you consistently go over your rate plan every month in a way that no matter what plan you are on - we are able to find a way to charge you extra air time / data usage. Let me give you a $79 credit, we can order your new phone right now on the phone. Thank you Tassi for returning to us time after time."
Me: 'Wow - thank you so much! I knew you guys would value me as a customer and find a way to comp me the phone. Phew - I thought that I was going to have to leave you and go to Rogers like everyone else."
Here is what DID happen:
Me: as noted above.
Telus Mobility Rep: 'Why are you so goofy? The deal is over and it is your loss. There is no way I can help you. Maybe you should check your calender more often and prioritise getting to a telus store between parenting three small kids and working full time at a shift work job. Slacker" *
* I should clarify that this is what I heard - she was speaking PR speak and essentially this summed up the sentiment.
Me: "Really? You are telling me to pound sand? Unbelievable! I have been with you guys since Clearnet! Are you sure you can't find a way to make this work?"
Telus Mobility Rep: "I will bump this up to the next guy on the ladder - but trust me you are screwed. We don't value you."
On hold for THIRTY minutes waiting for 'up the ladder guy".
Telus Mobility Rep: " We can't help you. Stop being so lazy... Oh I see you've been with us for 13 years... well how about we split the difference? We will comp you $40"
Me: "Nope - I have now lost 30 minutes of my life trying to get Telus to keep me as a customer! I always thought that you guys were in the business of getting new contracts not making life difficult for your customers!"
In the end, after another call to upper management I got my phone with the $79 credit on my account. Really Telus? I expected more and in the end I think that I wasted more than $79 in staff and management time... why can't you just do the math up front instead of driving your clients mad trying to get some acknowledgement that they are valued????
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Provincial Budget 2013 (British Columbia)
hmmm... I must confess that I used to have a Girl Crush on Christy Clark. I enjoyed her as a radio personality. I liked her honesty and candor. I decided that I would vote for her in the next Provincial Election. That was in 2012... it is now 2013 and I have falled out of Gurl Love with Ms Clark.
She did so many things in the beginning that made me believe that she going to change BC and make this a better province. I couldn't even pin the Integrated Case Management cluster f8ck on her as that was Mr Campbell's dream. Ms Clark did her part and 86'd the old guard from MCFD (all those lovely folks from South Africa of all places who wanted to decontruct our system of child welfare... because they are such a healthy country and all). Good riddence.
But then things slowly started to fall apart for Ms Clark. She failed to place an engaged MLA in the position of Minister of Children and Family Development. She started losing cabinet members. She started saying stupid crap.
And now it appears that she has cut funding to a vulnerable population in the 2013 budget. I am not going to get my panties in a knot as I don't think that the Liberals will form government after the election in May... but serriously?? You had to cut funding from adults with autism and FAS? Who is vetting your paperwor? Who told you this would be a great idea? I know that adults with FAS and Autism aren't a cute and cuddly population. They require intensive supervision and assistance. They have few advocates.
So while we are at it - why don't you take more money away from poor kids? From disabled seniors? How about you cut funding to drug and alcohol treatment facilities? After all those folks are vulnerable and often hard to advocate for....
Asshat Award: BC Budget 2013.
She did so many things in the beginning that made me believe that she going to change BC and make this a better province. I couldn't even pin the Integrated Case Management cluster f8ck on her as that was Mr Campbell's dream. Ms Clark did her part and 86'd the old guard from MCFD (all those lovely folks from South Africa of all places who wanted to decontruct our system of child welfare... because they are such a healthy country and all). Good riddence.
But then things slowly started to fall apart for Ms Clark. She failed to place an engaged MLA in the position of Minister of Children and Family Development. She started losing cabinet members. She started saying stupid crap.
And now it appears that she has cut funding to a vulnerable population in the 2013 budget. I am not going to get my panties in a knot as I don't think that the Liberals will form government after the election in May... but serriously?? You had to cut funding from adults with autism and FAS? Who is vetting your paperwor? Who told you this would be a great idea? I know that adults with FAS and Autism aren't a cute and cuddly population. They require intensive supervision and assistance. They have few advocates.
So while we are at it - why don't you take more money away from poor kids? From disabled seniors? How about you cut funding to drug and alcohol treatment facilities? After all those folks are vulnerable and often hard to advocate for....
Asshat Award: BC Budget 2013.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Cyber & In Your Face Bullies
Earlier this week week a beautiful girl named Amanda took her own life after years of cyber and 'in real life bullying. It is a similar story to that of Pheobe Prince. She committed suicide in January 2010 after relentless bullying by her classmates. Both girls were 15, beautiful and utterly bullied to the end of their lives.
I do not know many of the details of Amanda's life and death but here is what I do know: she was a young girl who made the mistake of flashing her chest during an online chat. Someone took a screen shot and the proceeded to distribute this child pornography. The photo went viral in the local area. Amanda was cyber bullied (and likely stalked by an adult male who seemed to poison each new peer group she joined) and physically assaulted. At some point last weekend she decided that she had had enough and ended her life.
I have seen friends get angry and upset on Facebook. I have seen some people questioning the 'supervision' of Amanda's parents. And I guess that is what has prompted me to blog about this sad situation.
When I was 15 years old I 'flashed' the car of a friend. It was careless and crude and a silly indescretion. My friends and I laughed about it years later when Drew Barrymore flashed (and danced on David Letterman's desk). We reminisced about our youthful abandon and chuckled about what that same image would be today - flashing breasts from a minivan that had suckled three children and experienced the wrong end of a ruthless breast pump.
I flashed that car in 1991. My parents were active in my life, knew my friends and knew that I had a wild streak and had an issue with impulse control (see blog post about my run in with Drambuie). They educated me and provided me with resources. I had a relatively healthy peer group who were also impulse impaired rowdy teenaged girls. I grew up, completed two university degrees, started a career, married HWSNBN and had three children. I grew up relatiely unscathed from my teenage antics. They are now stories I hope my kids never hear but that I also chuckle about with friends.
That is not the world our teenagers live in today. You might think that you are an 'uber' parent and you know everything your child is doing and who they are connecting with but I am here to tell you that is not true. There is no way (unless you move to a remote part of the country and even then you better hope there is nothing evil like a public library or a Starbucks with WiFi) you can keep your children off the internet. Teenagers will always find a way. To deny them access to a computer may even be a denial of a basic way of current communication.
You will not be able to stop the impulsive girls and boys from doing things online which may be harmful to them in the future. It will always be there - a girl looking for acceptance can be talked into almost anything. Same thing for boys (hello - why do you think that gang initiations still happen?).
My job as a parent is to ensure that children know the consequences of their 'impulsive' and typical behaviour. But a bigger job is to teach them to not be a bystander, to not partake in bullying, to stand up to abhorrent behaviour. They will take these skills into adult hood (as I can assure them from experience that Asshats are everywhere). This is the job that will require them to not sink to the lowest denominator. This is the skill that will require strength and courage. They will need to have faith in themselves. They will need to be fearless.
I know that the school districts can do a better job. They can address bullying before it becomes fatal. I bet you if you interview the teachers from the elementary school where Amanda's peers transitioned through they will be able to tell you which kids they believe could be responsible for this ongoing bullying. There is no will to address this issue in the elementary / primary grades. Trust that I tried when my son was physically bullied in grades 2 & 3. There was a genuine disbelieve that children could / would bully when they are 7 & 8 years old in the school system. Most disappointing was the denied that such an event could happen from one of my sons' favourite and most skilled teacher. It is the one thing that I would change about her otherwise spotless practice as a teacher.
So that is our challenge - to be more active in our communities, to be aware of what our children are doing, not to fear correcting them when they are hurtful or thoughtless. You are not your child's friend - you are their parent and guardian which means that you have the responsibility to make sure that they are aware when their behaviour is not acceptable.
Today a wee second grader told my 4th grader that he was a nerd and laughed. I was standing right there. I took the oppourtunity to let the second grader know that it was not appropriate and that I would stop someone from saying mean things to him if I ever heard it. I told him that my son would stand up for him if someone was picking on him. He looked at my quizzically and smiled and said thank you.
Bystander - 1, wee pre bully 0. It wasn't hard, my son saw by example and wee second grader was not shamed for his comments but instead was also 'shown' how things can be different.
There are going to be bullies everywhere. Please teach and show your children how to not be bystanders but to be active in their communities. We can change the world.
I do not know many of the details of Amanda's life and death but here is what I do know: she was a young girl who made the mistake of flashing her chest during an online chat. Someone took a screen shot and the proceeded to distribute this child pornography. The photo went viral in the local area. Amanda was cyber bullied (and likely stalked by an adult male who seemed to poison each new peer group she joined) and physically assaulted. At some point last weekend she decided that she had had enough and ended her life.
I have seen friends get angry and upset on Facebook. I have seen some people questioning the 'supervision' of Amanda's parents. And I guess that is what has prompted me to blog about this sad situation.
When I was 15 years old I 'flashed' the car of a friend. It was careless and crude and a silly indescretion. My friends and I laughed about it years later when Drew Barrymore flashed (and danced on David Letterman's desk). We reminisced about our youthful abandon and chuckled about what that same image would be today - flashing breasts from a minivan that had suckled three children and experienced the wrong end of a ruthless breast pump.
I flashed that car in 1991. My parents were active in my life, knew my friends and knew that I had a wild streak and had an issue with impulse control (see blog post about my run in with Drambuie). They educated me and provided me with resources. I had a relatively healthy peer group who were also impulse impaired rowdy teenaged girls. I grew up, completed two university degrees, started a career, married HWSNBN and had three children. I grew up relatiely unscathed from my teenage antics. They are now stories I hope my kids never hear but that I also chuckle about with friends.
That is not the world our teenagers live in today. You might think that you are an 'uber' parent and you know everything your child is doing and who they are connecting with but I am here to tell you that is not true. There is no way (unless you move to a remote part of the country and even then you better hope there is nothing evil like a public library or a Starbucks with WiFi) you can keep your children off the internet. Teenagers will always find a way. To deny them access to a computer may even be a denial of a basic way of current communication.
You will not be able to stop the impulsive girls and boys from doing things online which may be harmful to them in the future. It will always be there - a girl looking for acceptance can be talked into almost anything. Same thing for boys (hello - why do you think that gang initiations still happen?).
My job as a parent is to ensure that children know the consequences of their 'impulsive' and typical behaviour. But a bigger job is to teach them to not be a bystander, to not partake in bullying, to stand up to abhorrent behaviour. They will take these skills into adult hood (as I can assure them from experience that Asshats are everywhere). This is the job that will require them to not sink to the lowest denominator. This is the skill that will require strength and courage. They will need to have faith in themselves. They will need to be fearless.
I know that the school districts can do a better job. They can address bullying before it becomes fatal. I bet you if you interview the teachers from the elementary school where Amanda's peers transitioned through they will be able to tell you which kids they believe could be responsible for this ongoing bullying. There is no will to address this issue in the elementary / primary grades. Trust that I tried when my son was physically bullied in grades 2 & 3. There was a genuine disbelieve that children could / would bully when they are 7 & 8 years old in the school system. Most disappointing was the denied that such an event could happen from one of my sons' favourite and most skilled teacher. It is the one thing that I would change about her otherwise spotless practice as a teacher.
So that is our challenge - to be more active in our communities, to be aware of what our children are doing, not to fear correcting them when they are hurtful or thoughtless. You are not your child's friend - you are their parent and guardian which means that you have the responsibility to make sure that they are aware when their behaviour is not acceptable.
Today a wee second grader told my 4th grader that he was a nerd and laughed. I was standing right there. I took the oppourtunity to let the second grader know that it was not appropriate and that I would stop someone from saying mean things to him if I ever heard it. I told him that my son would stand up for him if someone was picking on him. He looked at my quizzically and smiled and said thank you.
Bystander - 1, wee pre bully 0. It wasn't hard, my son saw by example and wee second grader was not shamed for his comments but instead was also 'shown' how things can be different.
There are going to be bullies everywhere. Please teach and show your children how to not be bystanders but to be active in their communities. We can change the world.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Parents of Baby M - Alberta
There is a small girl clinging to life at Stollery hospital in Edmonton. She was beaten and denied basic neccessities of life by her parents. The result of their abuse, neglect and criminal actions have left Baby M in a near vegetative state. Her parents are currently in jail awaiting trial for causing her grievious injuries. She is a toddler. Who knew nothing in her short life except beatings from her mother and father.
These two parents are challenging the medical decision to have their daughter taken off ife support. Doctors agree that nothing more can be done for her and there is no chance of recovery. If she remains ventilated she will eventually contract an infection or pneumonia and slowly and painfully die. Perhaps this is the last human indignity that these 'loving' parents wish upon their daughter. She is just a baby.
The parents cite religious reasons why they will not permit the ventilator to be turned off. They state that they are loving parents (who just happen to be charged with beating a baby to near death). It never crossed their minds that if their daughter dies due to her injuries then they are facing more legal charges which may (and should include) murder.
Hmmmm..... the thoughtful decision by two caring parents who want their daughter to be bound to her earthly body OR the narcissictic planning of two parents who have been advised that they face possible murder charges if their daughter dies.
If she were a family pet she would be mercifully allowed to die. However she is now the pawn of two evil parents who would rather see her rot to death at Stollery hospital than show her any mercy. It is unclear why the parents retain guardianship of the child as they clearly do not have the capacity to make decisions in her best interest. I believe that Child Welfare services in Alberta is involved as CBC mentioned that there is a twin and possibly more children in the family. My thoughts are to those social workers who must be shaking their heads at the absurdity of this.
Further details are here in the National Post:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/09/14/judge-blocks-order-to-take-baby-m-off-life-support-as-alberta-parents-prepare-appeal-in-abuse-case/
Update October 2012
Baby M was allowed to pass away after her ventilator was removed when the courts upheld the original judgement to terminate further life sustaining medical interventions.
These two parents are challenging the medical decision to have their daughter taken off ife support. Doctors agree that nothing more can be done for her and there is no chance of recovery. If she remains ventilated she will eventually contract an infection or pneumonia and slowly and painfully die. Perhaps this is the last human indignity that these 'loving' parents wish upon their daughter. She is just a baby.
The parents cite religious reasons why they will not permit the ventilator to be turned off. They state that they are loving parents (who just happen to be charged with beating a baby to near death). It never crossed their minds that if their daughter dies due to her injuries then they are facing more legal charges which may (and should include) murder.
Hmmmm..... the thoughtful decision by two caring parents who want their daughter to be bound to her earthly body OR the narcissictic planning of two parents who have been advised that they face possible murder charges if their daughter dies.
If she were a family pet she would be mercifully allowed to die. However she is now the pawn of two evil parents who would rather see her rot to death at Stollery hospital than show her any mercy. It is unclear why the parents retain guardianship of the child as they clearly do not have the capacity to make decisions in her best interest. I believe that Child Welfare services in Alberta is involved as CBC mentioned that there is a twin and possibly more children in the family. My thoughts are to those social workers who must be shaking their heads at the absurdity of this.
Further details are here in the National Post:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/09/14/judge-blocks-order-to-take-baby-m-off-life-support-as-alberta-parents-prepare-appeal-in-abuse-case/
Update October 2012
Baby M was allowed to pass away after her ventilator was removed when the courts upheld the original judgement to terminate further life sustaining medical interventions.
Monday, August 20, 2012
The BC Commissionaires & City of Surrey (updated 2012AUG22)
As some of you know our dear cat Glimmer went missing on the night of July 28th. We handed out 100 flyers within a 1 km radius and put up 80 posters at mailboxes, light standards and coffee shops. Hope started to wane that we would find him after the first week. He was an 'outdoor' cat during the day as we have a beagle who uses an animal door. He always came home at night. It became clear to me after several nights and some reports from neighbours about raccoon attacks and coyotes seen in the neighbourhood that our sweet daft Glimmer had been predated.
He was well loved in our cul de sac and when HWSNBN (He Who Shall Not Be Named is my handle for my husband who hates to see his name in print) went door to door that first night he was missing we saw that love in motion. From the Chinese gramma who fed him tuna from her front step to the Indo Canadian kids who frolicked with him and the stay at home mom who enjoyed his company on her deck. He was loved and missed by our neighbourhood and especially us his non furry family.
We searched actively for Glim Glams for weeks. We took our beagle off leash in the wooded area and papered the neighbourhood like we were having a Garage Sale to end all Garage Sales. We posted in Craigslist, Facebook and Twitter, PetLynx and the BC Vets. He had a tattoo and we called the original vet and confirmed our address. We visited emergency vets and called shelters within a 20 km radius.
One night coming home from work I saw a coyote crossing the road a block from our house. I pulled over at 3 am and shook my fists at the wild dog and cursed it for eating our cat. It gave me the side eye gaze and looped back into the wooded area.
The story of Glimmer started in December when we adopted him from the SPCA. We found him after scouring the web at the local SPCA sites. I do not believe in getting cats from pet stores (unless placed there by shelters) or backyard breeders. I believe in animal shelters and rescued pets. We found our Glims right before Christmas and adopted him on the spot at the Langley Abbotsford SPCA. We filled out a form and answered all the questions and had our name entered into a database (mabe to ensure that we were not serial cat adopters?). Glimmer came into our home after a nominal fee of $180 which covered his neutering, tatoo and first vet visit. He was scrawny so we fed him turkey and gravy and milk for the first few weeks. He gained 2 pounds in six weeks and got a clean bill of health at his next vet visit. I had some guilt about not adopting a cat from our local SPCA in Surrey but they did not have an orange cat at the time and it took a lot of negotiating to get all three kids to agree on one cat (which we did by looking through the website for the SPCA). Because of my 'buy local' guilt I started to donate to our local SPCA monthly ($30).
When Glimmer went missing I learned that the SPCA no longer held the contract for the kenneling services in Surrey. An internet search revealed that the kenneling contract had been given to the BC Commissionaires. I searched online and could not find a website for the BC Commissionaires which had ANY information about the Animal Care Centre in Surrey or any information about their services offered. There was no posting of found animals.
I could search Petfinder and the SPCA and they had listed the cats available and the cats reported missing AND the cats turned in as strays. But the thriving metropolis of Surrey BC has no such service for their furry inhabitants. UNBELIEVABLE! And frankly unacceptable considering the amount I pay in property tax.
I went to the old SPCA location which is where the Commissionaires are at. They had a binder at the front desk and directed me to look in the folder as they had all the found cats there. No Glimmer. I put up a poster on their wall and asked about how often to check back and if I could actually LOOK at the cats that they had in the found area. They told me that for 'liability' reasons they could not allow me to see the cats. Was advised that they only keep the strays for 3 days before putting them up for adoptions (a bit of a short window considering the summer & people are on holidays!). I returned several times and brought a 20 pound bag of Iams cat food as a donation. Each time I went to the shelter I searched the wall of missing cat posters and the binder at the desk.
We have now come to terms with the fact that our cat is likely not coming home. We packed up our kitty carrier and returned to the Commissionaires building and chose a new cat (with great negotiations going on between the kids). Filled out 4 page form, was ignored by the 4 staff members who were there eating doughnuts and lectured by the clerk at the front about the fact that we should not get a cat unless we can ensure that it can be indoors (because presumably death by leathal injection is preferrable to living with an upper middle class family with a dog door). THEN she yelled at my son for walking the wrong way down the kennel alley where the dogs are kept.
To add to the misery and disorganisation they told us that they will get back to us within 48 hours after our application has been reviewed by a 'supervisor'.
During one of our earlier visits this same clerk advised that they had 100 cats and were thinking of housing them by colour.... and now I know why they have 100 cats waiting for a home.... no advertising, horrible service and a 2 day wait period to adopt a kitten.... wonder what went wrong with the low ball offer for the contract.
So here is what I have learned: you get what you pay for City of Surrey! You gave a contract to the lowest bidder and the result is substandard care of the abandoned and lost animals of our community. Sometimes you don't go with the lowest bidder. I am beyond disappointed that I am in any way paying for this substandard service through my tax dollars.
Bad decision City of Surrey. To the BC Commissionaires a HUGE raspberry for your asshat behaviour to my children and your utterly unprofessional pressence in my community. You are doing a disservice to the animals of Surrey and the potential pet owners. My son was crying when you advised that you might not adopt a cat to us because we have a dog door.
Oh and I found it especially classy when the staff cringed when the SPCA arrived with a stray dog and they actually started to nervously chatter and shuffle around (and stopped eating the doughnuts).... hmmm funny how your behaviour can change when you have actual professionals around.
Poorly played City of Surrey... messages into Mayor Diane Watts and her council are in the email bin as well as notes to The Surrey Now and The Leader newspaper. Surely as a community we deserve better.
Have you had the misfortune of dealting with the BC Commissionaires and the Animal Care Centre? Would love to hear about your experience. Maybe we can change this contract and provide a service that is actually helpful to cats and dogs in our lovely city.
UPDATE AUG 23, 2012
We received a call on August 21 by the Commissionaires to advise that our adoption application was approved and we were able to pick up our new kitten (s) later that afternoon. The incredibly rude woman who had lectured me the day before was present although she refused to make eye contact with me. We were assisted by a very helpful Commissionaire (the same woman that took our lost report in July for Glimmer). The kids were thrilled with the wee kitten & older kitten that we adopted (WHOLE other story about how that happened...).
I hate to criticize and organisation without providing some critical feedback about how they can improve. So here it is:
The BC Commissionaires need to advertise their available animals on the internet. You should be able to type in 'Surrey lost cat' and get the BC Commissionaires website which has a tab for missing and lost and available animals in the City of Surrey. Currently when you put Surrey Animals for adoption in a google search you get directed the the very efficient SPCA website which provides you with the information that they no longer hold the contract for the City of Surrey.
Get those available animals on Petfinder, have your own website, allow the citizens of Surrey to view your adoption form and policy BEFORE trekking out to the shelter with their three kids.
The BC Commissionaires need to hire staff to work at the shelter who actually like people AND animals. Without persistence and a flinty little heart, I would not have gone back there to adopt those cats. I could have easily walked away and gone to the SPCA in Maple Ridge or Langley Abbotsford. Your Mission statement should be to place the most number of animals that are abandoned and given up into the best homes available.
Last but not least - get some street signage! I was only able to locate the BC Commisionaires Animal Care Centre because it is housed in the old SPCA location on 152 street.
Advertise, Advertise, Advertise...
In the end I hope the City of Surrey spends my tax dollars on a new contract for kenneling to the SPCA - the professionals who seem to understand this whole animal welfare business and the importance of an online pressence in order to place animals quickly and efficiently.
I voted for Diane Watts and her council because I appreciated her style of governing and the fact that she outsmarted the bullies that were formerly in charge of Surrey. We are a better city because of her - I can only hope that she reconsiders this particular contract so the animals in the city of Surrey are better served as well.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Costco & their members
First of all - I have been a Costco member for a dozen years. I love their bread, organic products and El Grande sized hair products. I line up in December for the fresh turkeys and scrap with other members over the size 3 kids crocs in the Spring. But despite the love I have some hate for the Costco crowd.
First of all - parking. Why do Grandmas and truckers lose their sh&t in the parking lot? People seem to lose all sense of the linear concept of parking lots. They weave in and out and drive in the middle of the parking lot. It's like the comment rules of the road cease to exist the moment you merge into the parking lot from the non Costco world. I have seen senior citizens chase pregnant moms and toddlers out of the blank space of a parking space so they can turn in. I have watched huge Ford F 350s barrelling down the causeway of the entrance. Really people? There is LOTS of parking. So maybe you need to play chicken with the crazies behind the wheel in order to get to the entrance of Costco - but seriously it must start with the understanding that all the people piling out of the Costco are probably not taking the bus... which means that they are going to a parked car. Cut them some slack and let them get to their cars alive... its a win win! You can park there after they clear out.
Costco even acknowledges that they have a parking lot mentality problem! They have added 'bumper' spaces between the spaces! Bliss! Its like every stall is a handicapped stall. Except they are all not close to the entrance. But you can swing those doors open and you are not likely to whack anyones paint job! Sweet!
Once you get through the bouncers at the front of the store (really Costco? Is this neceesary for the double check for the card? I can't tell you how many times I have taken my card out of my wallet to show the Stasi at the door, only to lose it when I need to pass the second security check! And don't get my started on the THIRD check of my bill at the door. UGH! Next it will be retinal scans) it is a free for all during the gaunlet run of the 'specials' till you get the real store. All the while dodging Costco sized grocery carts and lookiloos - just trying to get to the granola bars. How many injuries are susatined in this process? Costco parking lot drivers turn into grocery cart maniacs once in the store.
All the rules about grocery shopping seem to go out the window. It might be the books in the middle of the store. It might be the overwhelming numbers of chocolate bars in close proximity. All of a sudden I am playing dodge ball with my cart trying to go through the ailes. And to add to the Olympic / Herculean effort being exerted you are rewarded with a further challenge of negotionating the sampler people! I swear multiple families plan their trips to Costco based on the sampler days. I should just turn around the first aisle I see these folks on... it always ends with a very strong urge to smack.
Finally I am done my shopping, have shelled out 30% of my paycheck and it is time to battle the parking lot and get home. Costco is a necessary evil for me - I have 2 boys who will likely manage to suck away my RRSP contributions for the next 15 years with their empty pit stomachs. But soon I am going to come prepared wearing full hockey gear (stick included) for the wilds of the Aisles from Hell.
Recommendations for Costco - more cashiers, less security points and more staff on the floor and parking lot directing traffic. Thanks! Love the biscotti!
First of all - parking. Why do Grandmas and truckers lose their sh&t in the parking lot? People seem to lose all sense of the linear concept of parking lots. They weave in and out and drive in the middle of the parking lot. It's like the comment rules of the road cease to exist the moment you merge into the parking lot from the non Costco world. I have seen senior citizens chase pregnant moms and toddlers out of the blank space of a parking space so they can turn in. I have watched huge Ford F 350s barrelling down the causeway of the entrance. Really people? There is LOTS of parking. So maybe you need to play chicken with the crazies behind the wheel in order to get to the entrance of Costco - but seriously it must start with the understanding that all the people piling out of the Costco are probably not taking the bus... which means that they are going to a parked car. Cut them some slack and let them get to their cars alive... its a win win! You can park there after they clear out.
Costco even acknowledges that they have a parking lot mentality problem! They have added 'bumper' spaces between the spaces! Bliss! Its like every stall is a handicapped stall. Except they are all not close to the entrance. But you can swing those doors open and you are not likely to whack anyones paint job! Sweet!
Once you get through the bouncers at the front of the store (really Costco? Is this neceesary for the double check for the card? I can't tell you how many times I have taken my card out of my wallet to show the Stasi at the door, only to lose it when I need to pass the second security check! And don't get my started on the THIRD check of my bill at the door. UGH! Next it will be retinal scans) it is a free for all during the gaunlet run of the 'specials' till you get the real store. All the while dodging Costco sized grocery carts and lookiloos - just trying to get to the granola bars. How many injuries are susatined in this process? Costco parking lot drivers turn into grocery cart maniacs once in the store.
All the rules about grocery shopping seem to go out the window. It might be the books in the middle of the store. It might be the overwhelming numbers of chocolate bars in close proximity. All of a sudden I am playing dodge ball with my cart trying to go through the ailes. And to add to the Olympic / Herculean effort being exerted you are rewarded with a further challenge of negotionating the sampler people! I swear multiple families plan their trips to Costco based on the sampler days. I should just turn around the first aisle I see these folks on... it always ends with a very strong urge to smack.
Finally I am done my shopping, have shelled out 30% of my paycheck and it is time to battle the parking lot and get home. Costco is a necessary evil for me - I have 2 boys who will likely manage to suck away my RRSP contributions for the next 15 years with their empty pit stomachs. But soon I am going to come prepared wearing full hockey gear (stick included) for the wilds of the Aisles from Hell.
Recommendations for Costco - more cashiers, less security points and more staff on the floor and parking lot directing traffic. Thanks! Love the biscotti!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
MOAs - not all just the crabby ones
My #1 kid sees a pediatrician... well all three children do and they happen to have different pediatricians due speciality (ADHD, prematurity & respiratory). I have been around medical offices quite often. I ADORE my GPs receptionist (Karen you are a gem).
However since December 2011 I have been dealing with am MOA from HE double hockey sticks. She gives you attitude on the phone (lots of Pffts, sighing, etc). I just know as I sit there with my mom sized calender she is going to offer me every crappy appoinment or conflicting appointment she can think of (as I am sure she is clairvoyant & trying to create the most amount of dialogue in to secure one appointment so that she can pratice her bitch tone), she fails to forward on messages to the doctor about prescriptions, she fails to call when she is delayed doing something about your appointment.
But today she went off the bitch reservation and called my house after an appointment to yell that I had confirmed that I would change my appointment today by 15 minutes. Irony is that my sweet Mennonite mother in law answered the phone (and not hag me). So she yelled at the wrong woman. My mother in law meekly told her that she would pass on the Holwer message. Cue 1 hour later when I get home. MiL does her best 'bitch' impression (which she hardlyhas any pratice at and can in no way due this MOA justice).
I sit and muse for about 30 minutes about what I am going to do.... 1) call her back and give it back to her, b) write a letter to the pediatricans and advise about the hellion that have on the phone, c) sit and stew and blog about it. Turns out I am not so good at sitting on it and decided that I can call her back AND blog about it! Win win!
Discounted the letter to the pediatricians unless I could find a way to send a letter to them which by passed the front desk.
Like all bullies she turned and ran when I called back... apologies and sadness.... me thinks that someone was lectured before hand because she was all puppies and balloons when I debated with her the importance of professionalism not withstanding the huge breach of confidentiality speaking about out appointment with someone who she did not bother to confirm was a family member. As she tried to defend her douchiness by saying that she called our hous this morning to change to appointment I had to remind her of technology and the fact that we have call display and the last time she called our house was on July 4th to confirm the scheduled time.
So a big kick in the shins to people who work in public but hate to deal with people. I quite like our pediatrician so I will endure her Asshole act.... but maybe when I see her next time I will make sure that I bring her a starbucks card because obviously karma is a bitch and she is about to get a beat down.
However since December 2011 I have been dealing with am MOA from HE double hockey sticks. She gives you attitude on the phone (lots of Pffts, sighing, etc). I just know as I sit there with my mom sized calender she is going to offer me every crappy appoinment or conflicting appointment she can think of (as I am sure she is clairvoyant & trying to create the most amount of dialogue in to secure one appointment so that she can pratice her bitch tone), she fails to forward on messages to the doctor about prescriptions, she fails to call when she is delayed doing something about your appointment.
But today she went off the bitch reservation and called my house after an appointment to yell that I had confirmed that I would change my appointment today by 15 minutes. Irony is that my sweet Mennonite mother in law answered the phone (and not hag me). So she yelled at the wrong woman. My mother in law meekly told her that she would pass on the Holwer message. Cue 1 hour later when I get home. MiL does her best 'bitch' impression (which she hardlyhas any pratice at and can in no way due this MOA justice).
I sit and muse for about 30 minutes about what I am going to do.... 1) call her back and give it back to her, b) write a letter to the pediatricans and advise about the hellion that have on the phone, c) sit and stew and blog about it. Turns out I am not so good at sitting on it and decided that I can call her back AND blog about it! Win win!
Discounted the letter to the pediatricians unless I could find a way to send a letter to them which by passed the front desk.
Like all bullies she turned and ran when I called back... apologies and sadness.... me thinks that someone was lectured before hand because she was all puppies and balloons when I debated with her the importance of professionalism not withstanding the huge breach of confidentiality speaking about out appointment with someone who she did not bother to confirm was a family member. As she tried to defend her douchiness by saying that she called our hous this morning to change to appointment I had to remind her of technology and the fact that we have call display and the last time she called our house was on July 4th to confirm the scheduled time.
So a big kick in the shins to people who work in public but hate to deal with people. I quite like our pediatrician so I will endure her Asshole act.... but maybe when I see her next time I will make sure that I bring her a starbucks card because obviously karma is a bitch and she is about to get a beat down.
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